Double window construction



J. F. BlRT June 16, 1942.

DOUBLE WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed sept. 1 1939 Patented June 16, 1942 NTOFFICE DOUBLE WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Jesse F. Birt, Berwick, Pa., assignerto American Car and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., v a corporation ofNew Jersey Application September 1, 1939, Serial No. 293,112

' Claims.

This invention relates to double glazed window constructions in generaland in particular to such constructions for fast moving cars such as areused in connection with the present streamline trains. It is necessaryin modern streamline train construction that all projections beyond theouter surface of the cars be eliminated, not only to reduce airresistance but also to improve the car appearance. In attempting toapply flush or slightly recessed windows to streamline cars it has beennecessary in the past to use a large number of parts in order toeffectively seal the glass and window frame in the opening. Due to highspeed train operation it has been extremely hard to provide a proper andfully Weatherproof seal Ibetween the Window frame and the windowopening. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to providea double glazed Window construction in which the sash frame may besecurely clamped in the Window opening and against the sealing means andwhich sash frame need not be disturbed to replace broken sash, therebypreventing disturbance of the seal between the sash frame and windowopening.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a double glazedwindow construction in which the sash may be retained in the sash framewithout any retaining means being visible and Without requiring anytools or special equipment to attach the retaining means.

be seen that the window opening is bounded by the edges of side wallsheets 2, stiffened by the usual post framing members 4 which aresecured to the side wall sheets and in turn carry an angle form member6. This angle form member constitutes a ledge substantially surroundingthe window opening and to which the window frame study of the followingdescription and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an inside elevational view of one corner of the improvedwindow construction;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 ofFigure 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 ofFigure l;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the retaining means for securing theglazing strip in position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fi'g. 3 but disclosing amodification thereof, and

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a portion of the Window constructionshown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will may be attached as willlater be described. This car vcarried window securing strip may be ofangle formation as shown or it may be formed by crimped metal strips,all as clearly shown in Grin Patent 2,029,772.

The window sash frame as ,shown in yFigures 1 to 4 inclusive consists ofa Z form frame having an outer flange 8 adapted to overlap the windowsash and joined by means of a web I0 to outwardly directed flanges I2adapted to overlap the sash securing ledge 6. In order to seal the sashframe in the window opening a Z form resilient strip is provided havinga thick outer flange Id adapted to be interposed between the flange 8 ofthe sash frame and the car side wall at the window opening. This flangeof the sealing member is formed integral with the web portion I6 andoutwardly directed flange I8 adapted to contact with the web and flangeportions I9 and I2 respectively of the sash frame. The flange I8 of thesealing member is adapted to be interposed between the flange I2 of thesash frame and the ledge of the sash securing member 6 and to be clampedthereagainst by means of securing screws or other means 2U. Thissecuring means also will apply pressure to the ange lli, thuseffectively sealing the frame and preventing any entrance of moistureinto the interior of the car. It will be noted that the sash frame-issecurely clamped to the car structure and that it need not be removed incase it Abecomes necessary to remove the sash. In this manner aweatherproof joint may be established between the sash and carstructure, which joint need never be disturbed except in cases where thecar structure has been deformed in wreck or due to some object strikingthe car.

The Window sash in the present instance is made of an outer pane 22 andan inner pane 24 held ln spaced relation by a resilient spacer 26 formedintegral with a channel like resilient member 28 which completelysurrounds the edges of the panes. The outer and inner flanges 39 and 32respectively of this channel like resilient member are adapted tooverlap the outer and inner surfaces of the panes and retain the panesin position prior to and during installation in the sash frame. Thisresilient pane retaining ing a long'leg adapted to overlap the iiangesI2' of the sash frame and formed on one edge with a short leg 38 adaptedto overlap the iiange 32 of the resilient pane retaining member, therebypreventing any possible damage to the sealing member by washingcompounds or by malicious persons. The edge of the combined nish andsash retaining strip is thickened as at 46, thus providing a spacebetween a portion of the strip and the ange I2 of the sash frame whichspace may be utilized to accommodate a leg 42 of a spring clip. Thisspring clip has its leg secured in any suitable manner to the nish orsash retaining strip and is formed with a substantially rectangularportion 44 adapted to be projected through openings 46, 41 and 46 formedrespectively in the sash frame flange I2, sealing flange I8 and securingledge 6. Portions of the rectangular spring clip are adapted to engagethe edges of the opening 46 in flange I2 of the sash frame, thussecurely retaining the strip in position once it has been forced intoseated engagement with the sash frame.

It will be obvious that after securing and sealing the window sash framein position by means of the Z form resilient sealing member and screws20, the sash mounted in its double channel sealing and retaining unitmay be slid into position and held securely in the sash frame by thesealing and retaining strip 36 which need only be driven into positioncausing a compressing of the spring clips in order to pass through theopening 46 in the sash frame `Xiange. In case the panes are broken orneed be removed for any other reason, it will only be necessary to prythe retaining strip loose and lift the panes out of the sash frame. Theframe need never be disturbed unless broken or the car side structuredeformed, and thus a seal once established between the frame and carstructure need never be broken. Such an arrangement is extremelyadvantageous since the hardest joint to seal is that between the windowsash frame and the car Wall structure and once this seal has been lproperly established, it should never be disturbed.

Referring now to Figures and 6, it will be seen that in general the carstructure and sash frame and Z shaped sealing means are substantiallythe same as those used in connection with Figures l to 4 inclusive andaccordingly the same reference numerals will be used. In this form thesash frame is of a modified Z form in that the outer flange of the Z islengthened slightly and provided with a laterally directed flange 66positioned in spaced relationship to the web I Il of the original Zshaped member. 'I'his laterally directed ange 60 forms a back seat forreception of the double channel like sealing strip of substantiallyidentical form'with that previously described, therefore, the samenumerals have been used in connection with the sash and sash positioningand sealing strip as was used in connection with Figures 1 to 4. 'I'hesurface of the flange 60, remote from the sash, has recesses formedtherein and in which spring strips 62 are secured. 'Ihese strips have aportion 64 directed y outwardly and terminating in a tip adapted toengage teeth 66 formed on a leg 66 of a T-form nish and sash retainingstrip NLv This strip is provided at one edge with short leg 'I2 adaptedto protect the flange 32 of the resilient sash retaining member, whilethe opposite edge is provided with a thickened shoulder 14 adapted toengage the flange I2 of the sash frame. In this form, as in thatpreviously described, the sash frame and Z form resilient'sealing memberare clamped in position, after which the sash unit is slid into positionand the combined ilnish and sash retaining strip driven into place withthe teeth 66 sliding past the tip 64 of the spring. Once this strip hasbeen driven into position it cannot be removed exceptby means of a smalltool which may be inserted through a small slot 60 formed in one arm oi'the T strip adjacent the leg 66. T'his thin tool, after insertionthrough slot 66, may be used to pry-tip 64 out of engagement with theteeth 66, thus permitting removal of the combined finish and sashretaining strip.

In both forms itV will be seen that a very ellicient seal has beenprovided between the sash frame and car structure, which seal need notbe disturbed. It will further be seen that by use of the improvedcombined nish and sash retaining strip a construction has been providedin which all visible retaining means are eliminated and that a veryattractive frame arrangement has been provided sltice the number ofvisible joints between the pos and sash has been reduced to an absoluteminimum. While the invention has been described more or less in detailby reference to the two forms shown, it will be obvious that variousmodiications and rearrangements of the parts other than those shown anddescribed may be made by persons skilled in the artand all suchmodifications and rearrangements of parts are contemplated as will fallwithin the scope of the following claims which define my invention: 1

What is claimed is:

1. In a window construction the combination of a window opening boundedby metal members, a substantially Z-form window frame positioned in saidopening, means connecting together said Z-form frame and metal members,a glass sheet positioned within said Z-form frame, and a combined glassretaining and finish strip overlapping said 'glass and entirelyoverlapping one flange ot the Z-form frame thereby concealing saidmeans, said strip being independent of said metal members whereby saidglass may be removed from the Z-form frame without disturbing theconnection of said frame with the metal members.

2. In a window construction the combination of a window opening boundedby metal members, a anged window frame located within the opening,sealing means positioned between said frame and metal members, securingmeans connecting one ange of said frame and metal members together andcompressing said sealing means therebetween, a glass sheet locatedwithin said frame, and a retaining strip for said glass overlapping theedges of said glass and entirely overlapping said one ange of the frameand being removably secured to the latter independently of the metalmembers whereby'said glass may be removed from the frame withoutdisturbing said sealing means.

3. In a window construction the combination of a window opening boundedby metal members, a substantially Z-form window frame positioned in saidopening, means connecting together one flange of said Z-form'frame andsaid metal members, a glass sheet positioned within said Z-form frame, aglass retaining and finish strip overlapping the edges of said glasssheet and entirely overlapping said one il'ange thereby covering saidmeans, and concealed springmeans securing said strip and said one angetogether.

4. In a double window construction the combination of a window openingbounded by metal members, a substantially Z-form window frame positionedin said opening, means connecting together one ange of said Z-form frameand said metal members, a pair of spaced glass sheets positioned withinsaid Z-form frame, a glass retaining and finish strip overlapping theedges of said glass sheets and entirely overlapping said one ilangethereby covering said means, and concealed spring means securing saidstrip and said one ilange together, said spring means comprising aplurality of snap-on fittings secured to said strip and engagingopenings in said one ange.

5. In a double window construction the combination of a window openingbounded by metal members, a substantially Z-form window frame positionedin said opening, means connecting together one ilange of said Z-formframe and said metal members, a pair of spaced glass sheets positionedwithin said Z-form frame, a glass retaining and finish strip overlappingthe edges of said glass sheets and said one iiange thereby concealingsaid means, and concealed spring means securing said strip and said oneflange together, said spring means comprising a plurality of springssecured to said frame and engaging serrations formed on a portion ofsaid strip.

6. In a double window construction the combination of a window openingbounded by metal members, a substantially Z-form window frame positionedin said opening with the web substantially at right angles to the planeof the opening, means connecting together said Z-form frame and metalmembers, a laterally directed flange formed on one flange of said frameand extending laterally thereof in spaced substantially parallelrelationship to said web, a pair of glass sheets located within saidframe and held in edgewise position by said laterally directed ange, aT-shaped glass retaining strip overlapping the edges of said glasssheets and said frame and having the leg thereof inserted in the spacebetween said frame web and laterally directed flange, and meansautomatically securing said leg and frame together upon insertion ofsaid leg into said space between the frame web and laterally directedflange.

7. In a double window construction the combination of a Window openingbounded by metal members, a substantially Z-form window frame positionedin said opening with the web substantially at right angles to the planeof the opening, means connecting together said Z-form frame and metalmembers, a laterally directed ilange formed on one flange of said frameand extending I laterally thereof in spaced substantially parallelrelationship to said web, a pair of glass sheets located within saidframe and held in edgewise position -by said laterally directed flange,a T- shaped glass retaining strip overlapping the edges of said glasssheets and said frame and having the leg thereof inserted in the spacebetween said frame web and laterally directed flange, and meansautomatically securing said leg and frame together upon insertion ofsaid leg into said space between the frame web and laterally directedflange, said means comprising spring means carried by the frame andengageable with serrations formed on said leg of the T retaining strip.

JESSE F. BIRT.

